GMA T.50s is (finally) here - and hugely fast
It looks incredible, it spits flames, and is quicker than a 720S GT3 at Bahrain. Imminent production promised, too
Plenty has happened at Gordon Murray Automotive since the T.50s Niki Lauda was first announced five years ago, but progress has been continuing behind the scenes. And very much in public view as well, for those that remember its amazing run at Festival of Speed. Now there’s good news for the 25 very lucky customers on the waiting list for a 772hp, 12,000rpm, sub-900kg Gordon Murray supercar: the T.50s has passed GMA’s Production Approval Test. Which means full production can begin, which means they’ll all be built in 2026. One percenter track days will never be the same again.
This being Gordon Murray, moreover, the PAT didn’t just involve a trundle around Dunsfold. It saw Dario Franchitti lap the Bahrain International Circuit, at night, in 1:53.303. Or significantly faster than some very serious race cars: the Porsche Carrera Cup lap record there is 2:01.631, a McLaren 720S GT3 has set a 2:00.675, even the old GT1 cars (specifically the Maserati MC12) could only achieve a 1:56.478. The Niki Lauda isn’t actually far off the pace of an modern LMDh car; in 2023, Neel Jani notched up a 1:51.016 in the Porsche 963. So just in case there was ever any semblance of doubt, this GMA T.50s is a very, very serious track car: it reached 184mph, 2.7G laterally, and 3G longitudinally (under braking) around the lap.
Bahrain represented the end of what GMA is calling a ‘comprehensive testing regime’, itself ‘a conclusion of a meticulous process of development, review, refinement, and perfection of every characteristic of the car.’ So it’s probably fair to set expectations pretty high; the T.50 raised the bar for modern V12 supercars, and now there’s a circuit version with a sequential gearbox, completely revised aero with up to 1,200kg of downforce, less weight and more power. Plus the flames. Yeah, exactly.
Dario Franchitti said: “The T.50s is the most engaging car I’ve ever driven. For pure fun factor, it surpasses all other track-only models, my favourite supercars of all time, and even the race cars I drove to multiple world championship wins. Gordon set out to create the greatest on-track driving experience ever. The team has more than delivered. The feedback, responsiveness, performance, sound, visibility, braking, stability… everything… it’s just perfect.” And he would know better than most. Each of the Niki Laudas will carry a commemorative name associated with Murray’s first 25 GP wins, with cars going to markets across the world. Best get booking your favourite circuit resort immediately.
Posted 40 mins ago
Eight seconds faster than a Valkyrie, which was supposed to be the fastest thing ever.
This GMA is track only?
Or is this GMA 8 seconds faster than the equivalent Valkyrie, the AMR?
The 2:01 was set by the Valkyrie road car, but the original poster omitted this and misrepresented the comparison.
Simply put, the F1 still looks better.
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